Grizzly Man

Just joined this forum. Hi all. TGYETI, "Richard Thompson is a gifted man" is understated but perhaps in that understatement we give him the greatest praise, although hyperbole is virtually impossible with someone of his talent. I've been singing his praises for thirty years now and I have to say that no other artist I know so consistently advances his art as a guitar player. The recordings of his live playing are a study of endless inventiveness and risk-taking. He must have more riffs than any three other players combined---I know that sounds absurd, but you have to have the experience of hearing him live over and over and over again; it's mind boggling.

Of course, he tends to be known for his songwriting, which I find amazingly eloquent; it's compact literature--the four minute novel. He's brilliant; that's all I can say. (But I still don't have Grizzly Man!)

TVAD: I couldn't agree with you more re. your sentiments about hearing the tape. The easy thing to do would have been for Herzog to play it (and in this day and age where everything goes..it was reaffirming to see just once some restraint from an artist).

A strongman from about 100-120 years ago decided to put on a show and punch out a lion. He had the animal (a male) leather wrapped about all four paws and also a heavy muzzle placed over the head. The strongman walked into the cage, said something dramatic like "Put up yer dukes!". Whereupon the big cat took one swipe of a padded paw and hit the strongman in the head - promtly breaking the fool's neck. He died. The lion didn't even know he'd been in a fight. I read this is a muscle mag over 34 years ago.

"Every spring here in the Sonoran desert [AZ], some yahoo thinks that he's the "Crock Hunter" and ends up getting bitten while trying to handle a rattlesnake! The rattlers come out after a winter's hibernation...so do the two-legged idiots! Sometimes, they are even running a camcorder, documenting their stupidity!"
-Fatparrot

You don't suppose they're trying out for "America's Funniest Home Videos," do you?

A friend of mine told me that someone in Africa was inspired by the likes of Jane Goodall and the other woman who lived with primates, except that this person thought he'd try it with LIONS. He was smart enough to have had a vehicle nearby, and is said to have beaten a "hasty retreat" at least once. Unreal.

If you like Herzog's documentary work you should see the doc he produced of the making of his film, 'Fitzcarraldo'...seeing the footage of a paddle-wheeler being hauled over a mountain was pretty overwhelming.

I admittedly did not see the headphone scene. It may indeed be enough to convey the essence for many of us. There still must be a difference from hearing the tape yourself. I guess it would be like watching someone listen to music with headphones.

By the way, anyone see Step Into Liquid and Riding Giants? Stupendous docs that just make you feel exhilerated. I now wanna be a surfer! (OK, maybe just body surfer.)

The scene of the director listening to the tape in Grizzly Man's ex's house is one powerful viewing experience. When he tells the ex that she should destroy the tape, I got chills. That's as close as I want to be to that sad, lost man's death. Damn shame he caused the grizzly to have to be killed, too. Narcissistic is the only way, I think, to describe this guy.

Tvad baby, lighten up...have a bear burger..

TVAD, I certainly can appreciate your perspective. It is beyond irony, beyond questions of taste, and all about insight. My point was about tapping into a penultimate moment that brought this guy to a very real completeness. It may not be for everyone -that's for sure. I did not mean to imply that it would be enjoyable, just instructive. We're talking about somebody that was enamoured with and played with fresh fecal matter from a bear and became truly one with the bear. His final moments may show an otherwise unknowable facet of his unique existence.

Who cares a flip about awards? - oh yeah, the director and people that are marketing the thing. That's always a great guiding principle for artistic expression.

I'm with Warren on this one, its not about the snuffing, its about the ultimate irony of this dude literally getting destroyed by his own love for something. He got so intertwined with his own innder demons he didn't see the position he put himself in, or maybe he did.

One interesting dude, however. Man, would I have loved to hear the tape that he gave to his Ex. The one he told her to destroy....

Did anyone see the extra footage of Richard Thompson? lol

"It seemed to my wife and me that the Grizzly Man spent his summers in the Alaskan wilderness, but spent his life in the closet, despite his comments to the contrary. Sad that so many are so emotionally wracked by self-imposed repression and denial."
-Tvad

Are you suggesting that maybe his loquaciousness toward the camera concealed an underlying shyness and self doubt, or is that a misreading of your message? If that's the message then yes, I can see your point. Could be true.

Also, I'm not saying that I don't feel sorry for the guy, just that he may have done more harm than good, even to the bears, for sure at least ONE bear....Anyway, a sad, sad story.
-Bill

"Yes, that's "Grizzly Man", and at least one bear was disturbed, too."
-Tvad

Really a tragic story, and ironic. His stated intention to protect the bears was honorable, but one of the places he stayed at was already a protected reserve. Habituating bears to humans has long been known to be a BAD idea, and the native (Inuit, maybe?) resident said that his actions DISrespected the bears and ran contrary to the native tradition. He also brought another person to her death*, broke the law, caused the local authorities to expend resources recovering the bodies and necessitated an autopsy, and--most ironic of all--caused the bear that killed him and his companion to itself have to be killed and gutted to retrieve their remains. That wasn't particularly effective protection for the bear, it would seem. He also exuded this aura of narcissism that didn't sit too well with me.
-Bill

*I agree with Bigjoe that this was the biggest tragedy. I think the bear getting killed was the biggest irony.

I saw something on this guy on the discovery channel this weekend, not sure if it was the same movie or a documentary. This cat was disturbed.

thanks islandear.

That would be www.wildblueyonder.wernerherzog.com.

herzog's new film WILD BLUE YONDER is even better. could be the new 2001:a space odessy....playing around the country as we speak.....the greatest soundtrack ever. check out wildblueyonder.com

That was a sad man, and he's probably beatter off where he is now.

Every spring here in the Sonoran desert [AZ], some yahoo thinks that he's the "Crock Hunter" and ends up getting bitten while trying to handle a rattlesnake! The rattlers come out after a winter's hibernation...so do the two-legged idiots! Sometimes, they are even running a camcorder, documenting their stupidity!

Timing is everything-- Just got my next batch of flicks from Netflix. And what do you think one of them is? Yep, you got it...

Get outta here!

the sad part was that not only did that fool get his own a$$ tore up by the grizzly he got his girlfriend eaten too.

Drubin:
Actually, I could bearly stomach such a grizzly ending.

Pun intended.

"I did not agree with all the behavior of this man, but I did find it very interesting."

It's certainly food for thought, and definitely a lot of material to digest, if you can bear it.

I really liked this movie. I did not agree with all the behavior of this man, but I did find it very interesting. There was some added significance, as I've had some contact with Grizzlies myself, and have been to the Arctic.